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Jacksonville police investigating 2 killings as justifiable homicides

Two recent cases being reviewed

A Jacksonville teen who told his family he aspired to live a decent life died Wednesday after being stabbed while trying to rob two men, police said Friday.

The death of Eric Steven Scott, 18, is one of two recent killings police are investigating as justifiable homicides, said Lt. Larry Schmitt of the Sheriff's Office homicide unit. The second killing involved Christopher A. Alfaro, 24, who was found shot in the head April 1 shortly after ramming his car into another motorist during a road-rage attack.

The killings were among seven homicides in 10 days in the city.

Schmitt said Scott was repeatedly stabbed while attempting to rob Tyson Moore, 22, and Sean Cybulski, 21, as they were walking through the parking lot of the Arbor Place apartments at 5800 S. Barnes Road. The men did not know each other.

The men told police that Scott pretended he had a gun and was stabbed by Moore during a struggle at the Southside complex. Scott's body was found about 1:10 a.m. by a passing police officer.

Schmitt said Moore and Cybulski went to police, who found the knife in a nearby sewer. He said investigators have found no evidence that the killing was anything but self-defense. Neither Moore nor Cybulski was charged.

Scott's family said this week that they were angry that some friends left him to die at the scene. Schmitt said some of those individuals were nearby, but it's unclear if they knew what happened.

Scott recently graduated from high school and told his family he was considering joining the Navy. He is the second son lost to Steven Scott, who lost another son 19 years ago in a car accident. Scott said he's hoping for more answers in Wednesday's death.

"I don't believe he was living that type of life," said Scott, 45. "He was a good boy."

In the road-rage killing, 38-year-old Craig Wickersham contacted police after the incident. Alfaro, 24, and a passenger were driving south on Cassat Avenue about 2 a.m. when they got into a road-rage squabble with Wickersham, police were told.

Alfaro rammed his vehicle into Wickersham's, which is considered an aggravated battery, Schmitt said.

Wickersham, who had a gun and concealed weapons permit, fired at Alfaro's car. Alfaro was shot in the head and crashed at Cassat and Shirley avenues. Justin Ellis, a 22-year-old passenger in Alfaro's vehicle, suffered minor injuries in the wreck.

An investigation found no evidence that the shooting was anything but justified and Wickersham was not charged, Schmitt said.

The cases remain under investigation and will be turned over to the State Attorney's Office for a final decision, Schmitt said.